# The Rothschilds The banking dynasty from Mayer Amschel's Frankfurt firm and the five sons across Europe to the financing of nations and the Suez shares. *This story part of: The world trade and money order* *This story part of: The bankers* *This story parallel: The house of Morgan* *This story part of: Money and finance* *Jews, moneylending, and the story of banking parallel this story* ## c. 1769 — Mayer Amschel Rothschild establishes his firm in Frankfurt Mayer Amschel Rothschild built a coin, antiques and banking business in the Frankfurt Judengasse during the 1760s. He was appointed a court factor to Landgrave William IX of Hesse-Kassel in 1769, which grew his lending business. ## c. 1799 — Nathan Rothschild moves to England Nathan Mayer Rothschild, a son of Mayer Amschel, settled in Manchester around 1799 to trade in textiles. He later moved to London and shifted into finance. ## 1811 — Nathan Rothschild founds N M Rothschild and Sons in London Nathan Mayer Rothschild established the London banking house N M Rothschild and Sons in 1811. It became one of the leading merchant banks of the nineteenth century. ## 19 September 1812 — Mayer Amschel Rothschild dies and his will sets up the five branches Mayer Amschel Rothschild died in Frankfurt in September 1812. His will bound his five sons into a joint partnership across the main European financial centres. ## c. 1812 — James de Rothschild founds the Paris bank James (Jacob) Mayer de Rothschild set up the Paris house that became de Rothschild Freres. It grew into a major financier of French governments and industry. ## c. 1814 to c. 1815 — Nathan Rothschild finances British subsidies against Napoleon Nathan Rothschild organised the transfer of gold and subsidy payments to Wellington's army and to Britain's continental allies in 1814 and 1815. The operation established the family as major government financiers. ## c. June 1815 — The Waterloo bond legend Legend says Nathan Rothschild learned of Wellington's victory a day early and cornered the London bond market for a huge profit. This dramatic version is largely a myth first spread by a hostile 1846 pamphlet, and it remains unproven; records suggest his gains came from a sustained bet on British bonds after the war rather than a single day of trading. ## 1818 — Rothschilds pioneer international government bonds In 1818 the Rothschilds arranged a Prussian government loan sold in London and denominated in sterling. The structure helped create the modern market for cross-border sovereign bonds. ## c. 1820 — Salomon Rothschild founds the Vienna bank Salomon Mayer von Rothschild established the S M von Rothschild bank in Vienna around 1820. The Austrian house financed state loans and railways for the Habsburg monarchy. ## c. 1821 — Carl Rothschild founds the Naples bank Carl Mayer von Rothschild set up the Naples house around 1821 to serve southern Italian states and the Papacy. It was the smallest of the five branches. ## 1822 — Rothschild brothers raised to Austrian nobility The Austrian Emperor granted the five Rothschild brothers the hereditary title of baron in 1822. It marked their acceptance among the European financial elite. ## c. 1845 — Rothschilds finance European railways From the 1840s the family funded major railway companies, including the Compagnie du Chemin de fer du Nord in France founded in 1845. Railway finance became a core part of their business across Europe. ## 1858 — Lionel de Rothschild takes his seat in the House of Commons After repeated elections and a change in the law on oaths, Lionel de Rothschild became the first practising Jew to sit in the British House of Commons in 1858. His case was central to Jewish political emancipation in Britain. ## 1863 — Naples branch of the Rothschild bank closes The Naples house wound down in 1863 as Italian unification ended the states it had served. It was the first of the five branches to close. ## 25 November 1875 — Rothschild loan funds Britain's Suez Canal shares Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli bought the Khedive of Egypt's roughly 44 percent stake in the Suez Canal Company for about 4 million pounds. Lionel de Rothschild advanced the money quickly, giving Britain a controlling interest in the canal. ## 1901 — Frankfurt branch of the Rothschild bank closes The original Frankfurt house closed in 1901 after the male line there ended with no successor. The family's business continued through the London and Paris houses. ## 2 November 1917 — Balfour Declaration addressed to Lord Rothschild British Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour sent a letter to Walter, the 2nd Baron Rothschild, stating support for a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. The letter, meant for the Zionist Federation, became a founding document of the Zionist project. ## 1938 — Nazi seizure of the Austrian Rothschild bank After Germany annexed Austria in 1938, the Nazi regime seized the Vienna Rothschild bank and family assets. Louis Nathaniel von Rothschild was arrested and released only after a large ransom in property. ## c. 2003 — French and British Rothschild houses merge The separate French and British banking houses were brought together under David de Rothschild in 2003. Further mergers led to the group renamed Rothschild and Co in 2015.